
Cpl Christopher E. Mason - KIA November 28, 2006
MySpace tribute to Cpl. Mason.
After seven years of employment with Rite Aid corporation, this woman was forced to quit her job as opposed to being offered any kind of compassionate leave in order to deal with the death of her son. To say it is a heartless policy is an understatement. To compare the death of her son to ’someone’s house burning down’ is beyond the pale.
When she returned to her job, she lost her sever years seniority and was treated with something akin to contempt. Here’s the story from the Patriot Guard forum.
Rite Aid Corporation policy concerning Fallen Soldier Cpl Christopher E. Mason - ‘is no different than someone’s house burning down’. (January 8, 2008)
Cpl Chris Mason’s mother told Rite Aid’s policy concerning the lost of her son ‘is no different than someone’s house burning down’ by Rite Aid Regional Human Resources Manager, while our oldest son still serving in Iraq. The mother of Cpl Chris Mason (Pictured above placing her hand upon a photo of our son). Cpl Christopher E. Mason, pictured above, killed in an Al Qaeda ambush 28 Nov 2006 while moving into position to support his fellow Paratroopers. Freedom Is Not Free My wife and I stand at our son’s grave site 02-20-2007.
He put her on the defense, forcing her to defend her position, it became a game for him. She tells me she is not sure of everything that he said because after the following statement she was so stressed she locked him out, but she cannot get this part out of her head, it wakes her up at night.
After the Human resources Manager snickered at her this is what Chris’s mother said to him: Chris’s mom: ‘Sir you are talking to the mother of a Fallen Soldier; my son was killed in the War on Terrorism’.
Human Resources Manager replied: Rite Aid’s policy is ‘That’s no different then someone’s house burning down’.
Chris’s mom quit her job at Rite Aid (Jan 10 2008) and is once again having a tough time with Chris’s death, and she is not sleeping at night’ … the Human resources Manager still has his position within Rite Aid.
The CEO, Mary Sammons, was contacted by phone (Jan 11 2008) and email (Jan 8 2008) concerning Rite Aid’s policy, but she gave no response. Thank you for taking the time to read this message. I ask that you share it with others so they will know the policy of some companies in this country are the same as they were back during the Vietnam war, yes how some people consider the lost of our Warriors in combat ‘no different than someone’s house burning down’ is beyond my understanding. ‘Strength and Honor’ Cpl. Chris Mason’s dad
Before you say that the Mason family is trying to capitalize on the death of their son - they are asking for nothing for themselves. Read what they are asking for.
What the Mason family wants …
Here are the demands that I have placed on Rite Aid, you may repost if you desire to do so:
1. Regional Human Resources Manager that made the comment about our Fallen Warriors issue written apologies to Chris’s mom, myself (Chris’s dad), Chris (brother still serving in Iraq as a Chaplain), and to all the Fallen warriors and their families. Afterwards he is to be removed from his management position within Rite Aid.
2. Rite Aid makes a major monetary donation, in the name of our Fallen Warriors and their families, to a foundation such as ‘The Wounded warrior Foundation.’
3. Rite Aid places an apology in a national newspaper apologizing to all the families of Fallen Warriors that have paid for our freedom.
‘Strength and Honor’ Cpl Chris Mason’s dad - Garland Mason
If you would like to let the powers that be at Rite Aid know what you think of their policy and lack of compassion then I would encourage you to do so. You can contact their Board of Directors via contacttheboard@riteaid.com.

h/t: Bear Creek Ledger

January 16th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Never did like RiteAid…now I shall never grace their threshold.
May we at A Newt One repost this in its entirety?
January 16th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Of Course!!! Please do and pass it around.
I’m going to do an update on it in a little bit - a separate post. I found some more info - so check back or go over to Bear Creek Ledger and see what she has there.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Update on Cpl Christopher Mason News…
I wrote just a little bit ago about how Rite Aid had treated the mother of a fallen hero, Cpl. Christopher Mason. Since I wrote that post, I found more at Bear Creek Ledger.
It seems that Lamar Sign Company has given the Masons the use of d…
January 16th, 2008 at 4:36 am
It could have been worse. She could have been working at Wal*Mart. They have pulled this type of crap against families of the fallen dead and got away with it without any media attention. You should also see how Bentonville treated their own dead ‘associates’ and their families on the COLI (Company Owned Life Insurance) policies Wal*Mart took out on its ‘peasant janitors’. Wal*Mart collected all the death benefit money, the families got nothing.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:31 am
How Great Thou Art!…
Nature is one of the gifts of God that I truly enjoy, but you must be careful not to test it. Nature is as dangerous as it is beautiful. It cannot be controlled by man ……
January 16th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Shamefully unbelievable.
January 16th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Dear Beth, I copied your post over to my site with just a bit of commentary. This is very sad and disgusting. I will never shop there again for anything. Not even an aspirin in the middle of a migraine!
January 16th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I would like to have seen the actual name of the quoted Human Resources Manager posted in this piece.
Putting a name to the quote would bring enough heat that it might bring about a resolution to this matter.